The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-04-22
Hartford Historical Society.
THE PURITANS IN MARYLAND.
Address by Rev. Or. Williams.
Confederate Military Records Present
cd by DIR. Geo. w. Archer.

The Hartford Historical Society met in the
tourt House, lisl Air, last saturday morning.
chair; +. w. Baker, Secretary.
The following donations were received:
From Mr.. James w. Malcolm. of Michaesyille,
copies OF The Ulster TO-, (NYD Gazette of Jan.
4,h, 1900, containing an account of the death and
burial OF Gen. Washington the Boston Gazette
OF March 18th, 1I10, and fac-simile of the Boston
Ners Letter, of April cath, 1904, the first news
paper ever printed in America.
From Mrs. Maria l.. Sewell. of Abingdon
copies of the HayJord Republican, Of Hsvre dc
Grace, of Sept. 2ith, 1895, and Oct. 18th, 1885.
From Mr.. James G. Bell, of Conowingo- a
which was excavated at Bibb's iron foundry,
Port Deposit, some time ago.
The thanks OF the society were rendered to the
donors.
The Secretary reported a contribution OF $40
by Mr. Jas z. Bell in furtherance of the objects
Messrs WIN. S. Osborn and j. l.. Griffith Lee
were elected active members. DIR. John X.
Qunan, OF baltimore, was proposed as cores
pOnding member, and Samuel Webster Brad
ford and Frank Z. Gorrell were proposed as ac-
tive members.
An amendment to the Constitution was adopt
cd providing that the day and hour of any regular
meeting may be changed by a majority OF those
present at any previous meeting.
THE PURITANs IN MARYLAND.
Rev. Robert II. Williams, d. d.. of Annapolis,
delivered an interesting address, on "'The Puri-
an sy N w6o w S% to %
DR.. Williams said that many Puritans went to
Virginia in 1914 or 1916. In 1912 the Puritans de-
hated whether to become Congrogationalistso or
Presbyterans, but sending to New England
for three preachers, they received ministers
whose views were known to be ortbodoxE
Knowles. James and Thompson. Prosecutions
were inflicted upon them and the first two were
soon compelled to leave, Thompson remaining
awhile longer.
Coonsts were sought BY Maryland where
Presbyterians were regarded with some favor.
After the passage of the federation act by Mary
land Puritans from Virginia in October, 1919
Ian led at Annapolis and soon spread over miles
oftcrritory. They erected church at Green
berry Point. opposite Annapolis, the ruins of
fei by graves now found there. In 1885 vault
was discovered which contained sheet lead
knobs, handles and other parts of collins, with
the dates 1895, lG9s and 1904. The Puritans also
built a church on Magothy river.
These people were strong enough in numbers
and influence 10 occupy prominent position
from the first, and gave names to- towns and
river; in the he state: NJ. Lloyd, an honored an
Severn to the beautiful river upon which Anna
polls Is situated.
Driven into hostility to Lord Baltimore con-
tict became inevitable and severe battle was
fought at Horn Point, near Annapolis in which
30 men were killed and wounded and a number
OF Purtans taken prisoner and kept in confine-
ment for some time, Finally they took charge of
the governmental Maryland and Lord Baltimore
made concessions to them.
Rev: Francis Doughty, decided Presbyterian,
was the first pastor of these people. He was
succeeded by Rev Matthew Clark, and to them
the Presbyterian church in the Middle States is
indebted TOR its early planting.
They rapidly spread TO the northwest and no
doubt found their way to the susquehanna river
and occupied land In Baltimore and Hartford
counties. Mount Paran, church, Baltimore
county, and Churchvlc church, Hartford coun-
", are the oldest Presbyterian churches in
Maryland: Their origin Is involved in mystery.
M,unt Paran is situated ten miles northwest
OF baltimore. It's history can be traced as far
back as l7l5 Its first name, which it bore for
more than fifty years, was Church of the Patap-
SEQ. Its second name, Church of Soldiers De-
light, was kept for 10 years. 1t was taken from
n tract of land in the neighborhood. The pres
ent name has been borne for more than fifty
years. Mr.. Williams is Of the opinion that the
present Mount Paran does not occupy the exact
site OF the original Church of the Patapsco. In
lIl5 the congregation applied TO the merchants
or London to send thema minister, and Hugh
conn was sent; Ihis church was doubtless
founded by the descendants Of the Puritans who
came to Annapolis IN 1919.
The history OF Churchville church can be trac-
ed to lN'S. but there we must stop with feeling
that there are years OF that history beyond
When Whitfield crossed the Susquehanna in
l159 and directed his steps TOT spot enclosed by
fence, in held owncd by the Hopkins family,
~ miles from Churchville, on the roal to Rock
Run, he found there congregation with an edl-
flee, on Graveyard branch. From the fact that
1t takes long time, usually to establish grave
yard Ia connection with church and longer TO
give the same name to stream passing near the
church, Mr.. Williams argued that the establish
ment OF this church must have been long ante
rior to Whitfelds arrival.
Before lI3S descendants of the Puritan colony
at hnnapolls round their way to the Susquehan-
ma. Many old and influential families In Har-
ford county bear the names of Puritans as
Archer. Preston, Bennett. Warren and Coale.-
Some Puritan names are also found among the
Friends, for instance, Hopkins Some of the
Coales, also, were Purtans and some Friends
Mr. Williams said he had noticed on old rent
rolls at Annapolis names similar to those in Har-
ford. One place. called Silverston, was possessed
by Philip Cohle. Another name was George
SkipwOrth. Other names are Richardson, Bond,
Hawkins, Cover, Hopkins, Herbert and Stephens.
Other names prominent throughout the State
are Beaie; Odeil, Stockett Baker, Boone, Chap
man and Bolt
These names answer the qucstion what became
of these people: Their power became weakened
by being scattered throughout the State but
their individual and family Influence was very
great.
1885 Joe. Archer. In 1850 Hugh Archer and wife
lived at st. Michaels, with three hired servants
and six slaves. Who can tell the influence of
that family in moulding the religious and liter
AIRY character of this county? All the records
clearly show that the Lloyd family descended
from the Puritan family of lC49.
These Puritans made broad and deep mark in
the history of the State and their descendants
are just as conspicuous for noble deeds to-day.
Rev. DR.. Williams was formally thanked Tor
his interesting and valuable address.
Mr.. Chas. W. Michael stated that In the grave
yard OF spe sutia Episcopal Church. Perryman,
ago-probaoly Puritan name.
SOME coNFEDERATE MILITARY RECORDS.
DR. George w. Archer read compilation of
original Confederate military papers, brought
away by him on the evacuation OF Atlanta. Ga.
by the Confederates. Sept, LIST, 1854, including
crate generals.
one OF them was from Gen. Cheatham, of Ten
nessee DIR. Archer said:
Everybody has heard of Cheatham's fiery
yalor He and Stonewa Jackson were alike in
the fact that in extreme emergencies each had
dernier resort-one not laid down in any work
on tactics. The derner resorts themselves, | am
sorry to say. differed vitality and certainly not to
the Tennesseean's advantage. In desperate
struggle Jackson for example, was wont to pray
fervently to the Almighty for help, while Cheat
ham, under the same circumstances, swore quite
as fervently at his troops, If anything went
wrong. He commanded at one time a division in
urgaliant Blshop-G General Folks corps. and the
soldiers used to say (though of course 1t was
Joke out of whole coth,) that occasionally. in
some fierce struggle when the Bishops lines had
got so tangled that he could not straiRhten them
by any ordinary tactics. so far from praying, he
had been known (Only in the very last resort, be
1t UNDERSTOOD to look up Cheatham in the thick
est OF the fixht-where he was always to be found
lines and cuss 'em a ittle.'"
One of the papers reminded DIR. Archer of the
sad story and tragic death of a young man, Jas.
L. Crittendcn: of California, who had been on the
staf Of Gen. James Archer. lie subsequently
Joined the Maryland cavalry in Virginia. and
was captured by squad of the enemy. lie was
tried on a trumped-up charge and without a
shadow of evidence was sentenced to death by a
drum-head court-marta and shot to death a
few minutes afterwards. His comrades, who
dearly loved the noble youth, procured the names
OF the members of that heartless tribunal and
carried the black list in their pockets until the
end OF the war, with the hone of finding one or
more OF them, in order 10 deal cut to them the
like terrible fate.
DR.. Archer presented all the papers to the SO.
clety. Among Them was the autograph sigma.
turc of Gen. Robert IL. Lee, penned So years ago
when he was an humble Lieutenant of engineers
in the U. :. army. The letter to which 1t is atlix
ed was written TO John Archer, now of Texas, a
brother of DIR. Archer. 1t was in relation TO a
contract taken by John Archer to furnish the
U. s. government granite from the Port Deposit
quarries for the construction of fort at the
month of the Chesapeake bay, of which work
Lieut.. Lee seems to have had the direction.
Mr.. VIM. 8. keech suggested that much mate.
rial for the future historian might be gathered
from the old church records in Hartford. The